Lacock
March 9
My dear Constance
The weather is now very fine and warm. The snowdrops having been kept back by the frost still make a very good show, but the purple crocusses in your garden are really splendid. There are but few daffodils yet – Our novelties in the Botanic Garden are eight plants of Scilla am śna and seven of Bulbocodium vernum in flower – We have not had the latter so fine before.
In the Zinc we have beautiful yellow Florentine Tulips, and the pretty Cape flower Hypoxis stellata a large white star quite black in the centre, and quite unlike anything else. In the stove the L ślia is beautiful, it always flowers just before Easter, the flower stalk is so long that springing from the back of the stove it hangs over to the front, and one can walk under the arch it makes.
I enclose Mr Menteiths <1> letter to me. The chocolate arrived all right, parcel unopened.
Your affte
Henry
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre.
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham.
Notes:
1. Charles Granville Stuart Menteath (1800–1880), barrister.